Quick-hitters: Notre Dame OL coach Harry Hiestand on Jarrett Patterson, Zeke Correll, underclassmen backups
Harry Hiestand wants to learn as much as possible about every one of Notre Dame’s 17 offensive linemen during training camp. In more than 30 years of coaching offensive line, he has found one of the best ways to get information about players is to challenge them as much as possible. Put them in new positions. Strenuous positions. Difficult positions.
And see how they respond.
“Every player out there has good things and bad things happen to him,” Hiestand said. “It’s all how you adapt to it and what you learn as you go through it. That’s what training camp is for. We try to put them in as many situations as possible where they get challenged and have to make adjustments.”
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Those challenges will look different from player to player. Hiestand might not push a freshman offensive lineman with the same method he uses on starting tackles Joe Alt and Blake Fisher. Those two, though, will likely be pushed as much as anyone else. Hiestand thinks they can handle it.
Hiestand spoke with reporters for a few minutes following Notre Dame’s Thursday morning practice. Here are some topics he addressed.
On Notre Dame senior Zeke Correll asserting himself at center
“He’s competitive, he’s strong, he’s tough. He’s here every day. He’s a warrior. He’s built for the center position – very good leverage, strong as heck. He just got the job done.”
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On junior Michael Carmody moving back to tackle from fill-in center
“Mike’s a really good athlete. He can make those adjustments pretty well. He has done well. We’re using him at tackle for the most part, but he has great experience for us to go in here or go in there. He’s doing good.”
On grad student Jarrett Patterson’s move to guard
“I had zero concerns. Naturally, for him, I wouldn’t expect him not to. But he’s a really good athlete. He’s a very good football player. He’s smart. He’s tough. He’s strong. And now he doesn’t have to snap the ball.”
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On grad student guard Josh Lugg
“Every day he comes not only to contribute to what we’re doing as a team, but he really has that care and passion for helping people around him. Not just linemen. Everybody. When he walks in the building, he wants to see you have success. He wants to see everybody on the team have success.”
On the younger offensive linemen and backups
“I haven’t been disappointed by any of them. I like what Tosh [Baker] is doing. He’s progressing from the spring. Rocco [Spindler] is playing more aggressive. Pat [Coogan] at center, he’s like Billy [Schrauth] where he hadn’t taken any snaps in the spring, so he’s on the right path. Andrew [Kristofic], I like where he is. Nobody is really stepping out above anyone, but there haven’t been any disappointments like, ‘He’s not playing close to what he’s capable of.’ That’s a positive.”
